Dowton Abbey star Sophie to open autism gallery in Thorne

Kev Rogers

Sophie McShera who plays humble assistant cook Daisy Mason in the Golden Globe winning ITV show Downton, Abbey is to open The Artspace in Thorne.

The Artspace is home to Artistic Spectrum, a social enterprise specialising in art as therapy for people with autism. The organisation has recently been awarded a National Lottery Grant to work with Autistic People in South Yorkshire.

Project leader Emma Wilson said, “We are delighted to announce that Sophie will be coming to open the Artspace. Her involvement helps us in our efforts to shine a light on autism which according to recent figures affects up to 1 in 50 people.”

Actress Sophie has just wrapped for Disney’s new movie “Cinderella”, directed by Kenneth Brannagh. She said, “The work Emma is doing with autistic people really helps autistic people to communicate and feel part of the wider world. My cousin has autism so it is a cause very close to my heart.”

Artistic Spectrum was established in 2013 to provide art therapy sessions that allow people who have autism to have a sense of self-development, and offers them an outlet to express themselves. Therapy through art can improve handgrip and coordination of motor skills, improved hand eye coordination as well as increased stimulation of visual, tactile and receptual sensors. It can also enable people with autism to release their emotions.